Lungwort Tea Benefits

Lungwort tea is known to be quite potent in the realm of chest and throat problems. Lungwort is most often used in traditional medicine for its expectorant and demulcent properties.

The lungwort is a flowering plant of the genus pulmonaria which can be found throughout Europe and Western Asia. Lungwort got its name from its oval leaves that sport many grey spots, which are thought to symbolize the diseased lung. It has reddish flowers that turn into a purplish hue as it matures. Other names for the lungwort include Spotted Dog, Soldiers and Sailors, Joseph and Mary, and Bethlehem Sage.

Lungwort was among the herbs used in the 1340s to combat the Black Death that was ravaging Europe. The leaves of the lungwort can be eaten as a vegetable, usually in salads.

Lungwort has astringent and diuretic properties that make it a valuable agent in treating wounds and cleansing the system. It also has antibiotic properties that make it a potent fighter of infections.

Pregnant and nursing women are advised not to use lungwort. This herb and tea are also not recommended for long-term use.

Among the active constituents of lungwort are the following: allantoin, catecholtannins, silicic acid, saponins, flavonoids, and tannic acid. These may be derived by making lungwort tea. Simply one tablespoon of dried lungwort leaves in about 8 ounces of boiling water. Then allow the lungwort tea to steep for about 10 to 15 minutes. Drink twice or thrice per day to help relieve ailments.

The following benefits are attributed to this tea:

May help in the treatment of such lung diseases as tuberculosis, asthma, and coughs.

May be helpful against bronchial disorders and sore throat.

May help against bacteria responsible for chest infections.

May help in the treatment of gastrointestinal and kidney problems.

The tea or tincture, when applied externally, may be used to treat eczema, haemorrhoids, wounds and burns.